Higher capacity stick magazine for

ABSTRACT

A new design for straight stick magazines that accommodates larger bottle-necked cartridges in a higher capacity than is currently available. The design includes a modified follower, a stronger magazine spring, and a more durable casing. The follower&#39;s new flexible movement allows for the stacking and releasing of more ammunition, as well as reducing binding and jamming issues. The stronger magazine spring is able to feed more ammunition into to the firearm. And the magazine casing is made of a more durable material to contain the great force the spring and ammunition are exerting towards the sides. The magazine casings&#39; angled bottom plate loads the magazine spring faster towards the front, making sure to keep the nose of the bullets up when leaving the magazine. The optional tab spring locks the bolt back when the magazine has been emptied due to firing.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/395,422, filed May 13, 2010.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Although others have invented high capacity magazines for various firearms, straight stick magazines for bottle-necked cartridges have been limited in the quantity of ammunition they can hold due to the ammunition's tendencies to stack in a curved path as they are loaded. The use of flimsy materials also play a part in the limited capacity threshold currently experienced in stick magazines for bottle necked cartridges.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, we re-invented some key aspects of standard stick magazines to accommodate upwards of 31 to 41+ rounds or more, while still maintaining basic straight stick magazine design. By modifying the follower, choosing more durable materials for the magazine spring and casing, and adjusting the design of the casing, we are able to create a higher capacity magazine that addresses the above concerns. The advantages of our magazine are;

-   -   allows for a higher capacity of magazine for bottle necked         ammunition; which means less reloading     -   easier to carry on your person—or in multiples—than other         magazines; such as     -   can accommodate heavier cartridges such as the 308 Winchester or         the 7.62 NATO     -   allows for a full grip of the firearm when inserted in the         magazine well     -   can also be used as a formidable hand combat weapon, should the         need arise

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

We have included the following drawings:

FIG. 1 outer magazine components

FIG. 2 inner magazine components

FIG. 3 follower

FIG. 4 tab spring

FIG. 5 left side view of completed magazine

FIG. 6 inner components assembly—underside view 1

FIG. 7 inner components assembly—underside view 2

FIG. 8 magazine spring and magazine—side view

The components of our new design are as follows:

-   -   10 magazine casing     -   12 lips     -   14 spacer     -   16 notch lock     -   18 dimple     -   20 tab spring opening     -   22 angled bottom plate     -   24 follower     -   26 tab spring     -   28 magazine spring     -   30A follower tab     -   30B follower tab     -   32A follower hole     -   32B follower hole     -   34 ammunition spacer     -   36 tab spring hook     -   38 tab spring body     -   40 bolt lock trigger     -   42 longer side of magazine spring     -   44 longer side of magazine

The method of creating and arranging most of the components to make our improved magazine will be well known to those with knowledge of standard stick magazine assembly or suitable mechanical ability. However, for possible grey areas of confusion, as well as addressing the new components, the drawings located herein should clarify its arrangement further for the reader's understanding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1. we see the outside components of the magazine;

Magazine casing 10's dimensions are based on the particular magazine well of the firearm it is intended to be used for. In the actual creating of the magazine casing 10, a more formidable housing is needed than is normally used in stick magazines. This is not limited to any specific material, but the material must be able to endure the extra internal forces that it will be exposed to. In our production, we chose to use 18 gauge steel. Two metal circular spacers 14 are affixed to the upper sides of magazine casing 10 to create the correct overall dimensions of the magazine, so as to fit the magazine well on the firearm (not shown) properly. Notch lock 16 is located on the left side of magazine casing 10, and penetrates through both the magazine casing 10 and the left spacer 14. It is used to lock the magazine in the magazine well of the firearm. The dimple 18 is located directly below notch lock 16, and assists in keeping the magazine from over-traveling—or being inserted to far in the magazine well of the firearm. The lips 12 retain and align the ammunition to properly dispense the ammunition from the magazine—to the firearm. The heavily angled bottom plate 22 is located at the bottom end of the magazine, and assists in loading, or compressing, the magazine spring 28 (see FIG. 2) faster in the front of the magazine. This will help to keep the nose of the bullets up (not shown), and allow them to feed properly.

For the inner components of the magazine (see FIG. 2.) we have the follower 24, the tab spring 26, and the magazine spring 28;

The follower 24 is affixed with an ammunition spacer 34 (see FIG. 3.) on it's top right side, and allows the ammunition to stack up properly in the magazine in similar fashion as other common followers. The remaining features of our follower 24, however, are unique to our own,—starting with the follower tab 30A and 30B. Follower tab 30A is located in the front of the follower 24, and extends down at a predetermined angle and length—to the underside of follower 24. Similar to the effect of the prominently angled bottom plate 22, follower tab 30A's angle and length also help to load the magazine spring 28 faster in the front of the magazine. Follower tab 30B also extends at a predetermined angle to the rear underside of follower 24, but does not require the same length of follower tab 30A. Two small holes are then cut into the follower 24; follower holes 32A and 32B. Follower hole 32A is located at the top front of the follower 24, while follower hole 32B is located on the surface of follower tab 30B. Both are used to accommodate the tab spring 26, as discussed below.

In FIG. 4, we see the tab spring 26 broken down into 3 parts; the tab spring hook 36, the tab spring body 38, and the bolt lock trigger 40. The tab spring hook 36 is braced into follower hole 32A in such a fashion as to snugly fit into the hole—without actually penetrating to the upper side of the follower 24. At the opposite end of the tab spring 26 is the bolt lock trigger 40. From the underside of the follower 24, the bolt lock trigger 40 slides through follower hole 32B, and—when magazine is fully assembled-will protrude from tab spring opening 20 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 5). The function of the tab spring 26 is to lock the bolt back in the firearm (not shown) when the magazine has been emptied due to firing. In our production, spring steel is the material we chose to create the tab spring 26.

To complete the inner components, magazine spring 28 is then slid in-between follower tabs 30A and 30B, as well as resting directly on the crease in the tab spring hook 36 (see FIG. 6 and FIG. 7). This placement of the magazine spring 28 keeps the tab spring 26 firmly in place. The tab spring body 38 is situated in the empty cavity—or core—of magazine spring 28, and will remain unaffected by it's movement. The magazine spring 28 should be oriented so that the longer side of the magazine spring 42 coincides with the longer side of the magazine casing 44 (see FIG. 8). The magazine spring 28 is used to feed the ammunition though the magazine as the firearm is being fired, in the same fashion as most common magazine springs do. But since the capacity of the magazine is greater; the actual weight to displace—as well as the distance to travel—must also be greater for the magazine spring 28 to accommodate. Therefore, a stronger and bigger magazine spring 28 is needed to successfully feed the ammunition into the firearm than is normally used. For our purposes, we decided to have the magazine spring 28 consist of a chrome silicon material, and with a larger diameter of about 0.093″, to give us the desired result. We would also like to add that it is highly advantageous for the magazine spring 28's diameter dimensions to closely mirror the internal dimensions of the magazine casing 10, so as to limit the movement of the follower.

Some of the key elements in the special ability of our magazine as opposed to other designs is that we do not stop the follower 24, from tilting. We encourage the follower 24 to have free movement, and use the magazine spring 28, to help keep the follower 24 stable. The magazine spring 28 is able to do this due to it's custom made size and stronger material, as well as the fact that the follower 24 is actually attached to the top of the magazine spring 28. We also use both the follower tab 30A, and the highly angled bottom plate 22, to load the magazine spring 28 faster in the front of the magazine. This allows us to time the pressure curve on the spring, and to apply more force on the follower 24 to help feed the ammunition. The rear tab spring 26 is situated in-between the follower 24 and the magazine spring 28, and is the mechanism we use to lock the bolt back in the firearm.

Use of our magazine is mostly standard to other stick magazines with only slight variances, and are as follows;

While holding the magazine, user will load 1 round of ammunition in standard fashion into follower 24. For second round of ammunition, user will press bolt lock trigger 40 in with thumb or other, while simultaneously loading second round. At this point, bolt lock trigger 40 should be fully inserted in magazine casing 10. All remaining rounds of ammunition are then loaded as usual. Once magazine is fully loaded, it can be inserted into the magazine well, where notch lock 16 will lock magazine in place. Dimple 18 will keep the magazine from over-traveling—or being inserted to far into the magazine well. Magazine is now ready to be used in normal fashion with firearm. After ammunition has been expelled, or when magazine is ready to be removed, user may simply pull magazine out—again, in standard fashion—which usually involves engaging some form of magazine release button on the actual firearm.

Other Embodiments

While the above description has many specifications, it should not be interpreted as limitations of the invention, but rather as one of several possible incarnations thereof. There are many alternative ways to produce an effective re-creation of our magazine, some of which are as follows;

-   -   Any wide variety of metals, plastics or other materials may be         used for all components.     -   The dimensions of the magazine casing are subject to change for         different firearms, different ammunition, different capacity, or         to accommodate different size inner components.     -   The extreme angle on the notably angled bottom plate is not         defined, and is subject to change for different firearms,         different ammunition or to accommodate different size magazine         springs.     -   Any wide variety of coatings may be used to prolong the         durability, or improve the appearance of our magazine.     -   Any wide variety of processes can be used to create all         components, i.e.—injection molding, stamping, etc.     -   Any wide variety of methods may be used to engage the tab         spring; i.e. buttons, switches etc.     -   Our specific configuration of follower, tab spring, and magazine         spring could possibly still function properly as a unit in a         curved, or banana magazine casing, if desired.     -   Spacers can be in any variety of shapes—or even non existent at         all—depending on the method of construction, i.e.—injection         molding, stamping, etc.     -   The tab spring could be replaced with other devices to lock the         bolt back—or no device at all; since it is more of a         convenience, than a necessity, to the magazine's function.         However, we do not advise the lack of such a device.     -   Our magazine design could also be used for non-bottle necked         cartridges and/or less ammunition capacity, if desired.     -   Other types of springs, or materials that comprise the spring,         could be used as the magazine spring, i.e—coil springs or         braided steel magazine springs.         With this being said, the reader should comprehend that the         scope of this application should not be determined solely by the         embodiments mentioned, but by the attached claims and their         legal equivalents.

Means for providing higher capacity in stick magazines, including larger bottle-necked cartridges; 

1. In combination, a magazine having a harmonious relationship with said follower, magazine spring, and magazine casing, to provide higher capacity, including larger bottle-necked cartridges, in said magazine style. a. In reference to claim 1; a follower that is not restricted in movement, be it side to side, and/or front to back. b. In reference to claim 1; where the magazine spring may be made more formidable with the use of chrome silicon material and/or larger diameter c. In reference to claim 1; where the magazine casing may be made more formidable with the use of 18 gauge steel d. In reference to claim 1; where the magazine casing may include a strikingly angled bottom plate e. In reference to claim 1; where said magazine may include tab spring/bolt locking mechanism 